Report
Rarely has the cliché “a game of two halves” been as true as it was today. Bottom of the table against the top, the result should have been a foregone conclusion but Tommy Lee’s men certainly had other ideas in this scintillating encounter. The kick off was in doubt and only arrived due to the hard work of the Barking officials, still the referee was quoted as saying that he’d call the match off if there was any more rain.
Against the bookies’ call, it was the Lilywhites who took the game to Barking, they seemed to find their feet better, were more sure in the tackle and more threatening from the outset. The first break came after only six minutes when Notley was brought down on the edge of the area by Barking’s keeper Alex Cancar. He was shown the red card as he was the last man in the defence.
The Lilywhites pressed and had control of the game but did not make their numerical advantage count until the 29th minute. Their Jon Buffon had just hit the underside of the Leyton bar and the defence cleared when Cyril Baffour received the ball on the right. He made good use of the drier ground and went on a run down the wing. He then crossed the ball to Jamie Dormer on the far edge of the six yard box. His thunderous scissors kick gave stand in keeper Reg Gardner no chance and the Lilywhites took a deserved lead.
Determined not to rest on their laurels, the Lilywhites remained on the attack and were repaid for their efforts, on 35 minutes, with their second goal. A wave of attacking led by Notley and Riley ended on the edge of the penalty area with Notley’s shot being charged out. Lee Snowsill was waiting on the right of the penalty area to half volley a rasping shot. Truth be told, there was a slight deflection but the ball was on its way anyway.
Then the second half. What a different story. Barking came out fired up and ready to take the match “by the scruff of the neck”. The ten men penned the Lilywhites back in their own half. It was time for the defence to do its work and this they did for over twenty minutes with Terry Scotchmer playing a blinder, making important tackle after important tackle. Then keeper Dave Curtis making his presence felt an pulling off excellent save in the air and diving at players’ feet.
It was on 72 minutes when the waves broke and Barking got their goal. Dave Curtis cleared the ball but no Leyton player was in a position to collect it. Before he could get back onto his goal line, Nathan Thomas had volleyed the ball into the net. The Lilywhites’ found no way of responding and could not lift the pressure. More free kicks and more corners. In the third of a series Chris Rose did as his name suggests and rose to head home. Barking stepped up yet another gear. (Who designed this gearbox with so many gears?) But the Lilywhites did respond. They came out fighting. They went down the Barking end and won a corner. The corner was cleared and Sussex ran the length of the pitch and laid off the ball for Danny Clark to score from close range.
Almost straight from the kick off Jamie Dormer struck the underside of the Barking bar. But it was not to be. After an interminable amount of time added on, this really rather exciting game came to an end.